Discharging molten masses from chambers under pressure



Nov. 8, 1955 o, HUBMANN 2,723,187

DISCHARGING MOLTEN MASSES FROM CHAMBERS UNDER PRESSURE Filed Sept. 12, 1951 Fig. Z

Inventor:

United States Patent DISCHARGING MOLTEN MASSES FROM CHAMBERS UNDER PRESSURE Otto Hubmann, Bad Hombnrg, Germany Application September 12, 1951, Serial No. 246,199 Claims priority, application Germany November 13, 1950 8 Claims. (Cl. 48--87) This invention relates to improvements in discharging molten masses from chambers under pressure. It more particularly relates to a method and apparatus for discharging molten masses from confined spaces in which a pressure of several atmospheres is maintained, as, for example, gas producers operated under pressure, metallurgical furnaces, and the like.

In the past it was customary to discharge molten ashes or slag from this type of space in a liquid state through a cooled tapping channel which was periodically opened to the outside. After the discharge of the slag this opening was plugged with a ceramic material. It was also proposed to granulate the slag within the pressure chamber of the gas producers at the high operating temperatures and pressures by feeding it into a water bath, and by sluicing the granulated slag out of the pressure chamber periodically.

One object of this invention is a new and improved method and apparatus for discharging molten masses from chambers under high pressure. This, and still further objects will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical section through an apparatus in accordance with the invention showing the discharging channel, a breaking device, and a quick acting stop valve, and

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross section through the line A-B of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, showing the rotatable portion of the breaking device arranged in the shape of a sluice.

According to the invention, liquid molten masses are discharged from confined spaces operated under pres sure in the following manner:

First of all a passage is established between the molten masses inside the pressure chamber and the outside of the chamber. The liquid molten masses are then, under the influence of the pressure in the pressure chamber allowed to pass into the passage. In the passage the mass is cooled to an extent sufiicient to cause solidification or congealing thereof. The congealed mass is then broken at the outside portion of the passage and the broken material is removed. The pressure in the chamber will force additional molten masses into the passage which can be continuously removed by breaking the congealed material at the discharge end of the passage and removing the same. The broken material may be discharged through a sluice or the like which may be additionally secured against gas eruption. In the manner described above, the liquid molten masses may be removed from the confined spaces easily and safely and yet the spaces will at all times be sealed in a pressure-tight manner by the solidified or congealed masses themselves. The discharge passage established in accordance with the invention preferably widens in a uniform manner toward the discharge end and may in this manner have a frustoconical shape.

The apparatus according to the present invention has a cooled discharge channel defining a passage out of the ice 2 pressure chamber. The cross-section of this cooled channel gets larger toward its outer end and preferably has a frusto-conical shape. The liquid or pasty mass is forced into this channel by means of the pressure prevailing in the pressure chamber, as, for example, in a gas producer. The cooling of the channel congeals the mass forced therein into a solid, slightly conical body which fills the channel almost completely for at least a large portion of its length, thus preventing the mass from escaping in an uncontrollable manner. The congealed mass is blocked at the outer end of the channel by a locking device, i. e., a support member. In addition, there is provided a breaking device for breaking 0E small pieces of the slag body and conveying them to the outside through the locking device. The solid mass is pushed outward through the channel at the same rate by the higher pressure prevailing in the pressure chamber so that the mass may be practically continuously removed from the chamber. An eruption of the liquid mass or gases from the pressure chamber is thus prevented in an extremely efficient manner as due to the slightly conical shape of the discharge channel only very narrow spaces may form along its cooled walls which are immediately closed by the forced-in congealing mass.

The breaking oil of the congealed, solidified mass at the outer end of the discharge channel may be effected in any known manner by any conventional breaking device, as, for example, by a toothed wheel which is rotated continuously, or by a reciprocating device fitted with cogs or the like which breaks off small pieces and allows them to fall downwards. In order to increase the security against gas eruptions, even when the liquid mass has been completely discharged, the breaking off device may be arranged in the shape of a sluicing mechanism, as, for example, in the shape of a complete cog wheel. There may, however, additionally be provided, posterior to the breaking device, a special sluice, as, for example, a paddle valve or cellular wheel. For the purpose of obtaining security against gas eruption, a valve-like locking device, as, for example, a quick acting stop valve, may be arranged posterior to the breaking device, which is normally open, but in case of gas eruption is immediately and automatically closed by the gas pressure itself.

The breaking device is advantageously driven by a geared motor in such a manner that the number of strokes or revolutions of the breaking device can be adjusted to the rate at which the quantities of molten or plastic masses accumulate. For example, the driving motor of the breaking device may be automatically stopped as soon as gas flows from the discharging channel after a complete or nearly complete discharge of the slag masses. This stopping of the motor may be effected by a conventional electrothermal relay, or, in the case of the use of a quick-acting stop valve or the like, for securing the slag discharge against eruption, by mechanical transmission means connected with the valve. The breaking device may subsequently be started again after a certain quantity of molten or pasty slag mass has again accumulated in the pressure chamber, and is automatically stopped again after the discharge of the mass. It is possible with the arrangement according to the invention, to operate the slag discharging fully automatically, as, for example, in such a way that with the aid of a time limit relay the driving motor for the breaking device is automatically started again after a period of time that has been determined empirically and is dependent upon the rate of supply of the masses to be discharged. By means of a suitable control of the breaking speed a fully automatic and continuous discharging of the molten masses or the like may be effected, even at extremely high operating pressures, such as, for example, 300 to 600 pounds per square inch.

The new invention will be better understood by a detailed description of one embodiment of an apparatus according thereto as shown in the accompanying drawings.

The pressure-proof shell 1 of a gas producer operated under, for example, 140 lb./in. gauge pressure, which is blasted with oxygen or highly heated air and steam,v

is fitted with a lining of refractory masonry 2; The slag pool 3 is located in the lower part of' the gas producer, and above it is the gasification zone 4 containing the combustible tobe gasified. For the purposeof compensating. the reaction heat, the outside of the gas producer shell may be sprinkled or irrigated in the conventional manner with water, or it may be provided with a water jacket. The slag discharge defined by the walls 5, is arranged in the lower part ofthe gas producer and is appropriately made of copper and is. provided for liquid cooling. The

walls of the discharge 5 define spaces or passages 22' for the cooling water. The channel 6'. through which the slag is discharged is made slightly conical and has at its inner end a smaller diameter than at the outer one. Positioned at the outer end of the slag channel is a pressure-proof housing 7 in which, opposite to the outer opening of the slag channel 6, and within a cylindrical housing 23, a cylindrical rotatable body, i. e., a support member, 8 is arranged; The support member 8 is fitted with breaker teeth 9 and provided with a bore hole or conduit 12. By rotating the member 8 about 45 degrees in both directions, the conduit 12 is alternately connected with the end of the slag channel 6 and with the opening 13 in the wall of the housing 2-3, so that the slag pieces broken off by the breaking device are sluiced from the slag channel 6 into the chamber 14'. The member 8 is rotated back and forth in the usual manner by means of a.

shaft and a lever 11 which are actuated by a motor of the conventional kind. There is further provided in the housing 7 a quick action stop valve 15 which in case of an eruption of gases closes the opening 19. For this purpose the quick action stop valve is connected with a piston 16, and in its normal position is held open by the pressure of a spring 17. In case, for example, the level of the slag pool has sunk down so far that gas flows through the slag channel 6, this gas creates a higher than atmospheric pressure in the chamber 18 above the piston 16. Thereby the piston 16 is pushed downward, closing the opening 19. The chamber 18 is additionally provided with, a pipe 20. that connects it with the open air and can be closed by a valve 21. When subesquent to an actuation of the quick action stop valve by the gas pressure, the slag pool has been filled up again, and the channel 6 is. closed by congealed slag, the valve 21 is opened. The piston 16' with the valve 15 is now moved upward by the pressure of the spring 17; The rotary body 8 can now again be put in operation by starting the driving motor. The devices for actuating the quick action stop valve 15, the valve 21', and the motor for operating the device 8 may in this type of arrangement be interconnected in such a way that the motor is automatically restarted. when a certain amount of time has passed after the gas eruption, so that the discharging of the slag can be carried out with little or no attendance.

The new invention allows the safe and eflicient dis charge of; moltenmassesfrom chambers under high pressure and according thereto it; becomes possible. to operate shaft furnaces or melting ovens from which materials such as slag, metal or the like are to be discharged under high pressures. In the gasification of pulverulent or coarsely granular combustible material, great progress is achieved by the invention for the economic use of the gas' turbine, as well as forthe production ofgases and said support member forbreaking congealed material at said channel exit.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said channel is a frusto-conical channel.

3. Apparatus according, to claim 1, including a housing in pressure-tight connection with said channel, said break.- ing device being positioned in said housing, and. including discharge means positioned for discharging congealedmaterial broken off by said breaking device from said housing.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said support member includes a reciprocally rotatable, cylindrical memberand. in which said breaking device consists of breaking teeth positioned on said cylindrical member.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said breaking device and said support member are positioned in a housing in pressure tight connection with said channel, said housing defining a discharge exit therefrom and including a movable member defining a passageway therethrough positioned in said housing, said movable member being movable within said housing between a position in which one end of said passageway is in communication with the exit of said channel for the filling of the passageway with broken material with the other end of said passageway sealed, and. aposition sealing said first mentioned end of said passageway with the other end in communication with said discharge exit from said housing.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which said movable member is a cylindrical member defining at least a portion of said support member, and in which saidbreaking device consists of breaking teeth positioned on said cylindrical member.

7. Apparatusaccording to claim 6 which includes valve means positioned for closing said discharge exit from said housing, and including pressure responsive means positioned for actuating said valve means upon a pressure increase within said housing.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a pressure tight housing in pressure tight connection with said channel, said breaking device and said support member being positioned. in said housing, said housing defining a discharge exit therefrom, and including valve means positioned for closing said discharge exit, and pressure responsive means, positioned. for actuating said valve means upon an increase of pressure. within said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED. STATESv PATENTS.

1,020,743 Burlingham et al'. Mar. 19, 1912 1,144,065, Roitzheim et al. June 22, 1915 1,957,583 Foresman May& 1934 2,499,600 M'einzer Mar. 7; 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 682,521 Great Britain Nov. 1-2, 1952 

1. APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING MOLTEN MASSES FROM CHAMBERS OPERATED UNDER PRESSURE, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION WITH A PRESSURE CHAMBER MEANS DEFINING A CHANNEL EXTENDING WITH AN INCREASING CROSS-SECTION FROM THE INTERIOR TO THE OUTSIDE OF SAID CHAMBER, COOLING MEANS POSITIONED FOR COOLING SAID CHANNEL, A SUPPORT MEMBER POSITIONED AT THE EXIT OF SAID CHANNEL FOR THE RETAINING OF CONGEALED MATERIAL PLUGGING SAID CHANNEL, AND A BREAKING DEVICE POSITIONED BETWEEN THE EXIT OF SAID CHANNEL AND SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR BREAKING CONGEALED MATERIAL AT SAID CHANNEL EXIT. 